Time and temperature controller for domestic appliances



May 31, 1949.

Original Filed 001:. 11, 1943 R. R. CANDOR. TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER FOR DOMESTIC APPLIANCES 5 Sheets-Sheet l i? F f.- O

yn ii 2,, J 4 2.1 "'7- 5 "'6 6L q if? :-1L-I| 3' 72, y: "--67 Bur" go a/ g; ii H a 31 MM 21 IM! 38 FIG.2

May 31, 1949. CANDQR 2,471,862

TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER FOR DOMESTIC APPLIANCES Original Filed Oct. 11, 1943 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIII IN V EN TOR.

R. R. CANDOR 2,471,862 TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER FOR DOMESTIC APPLIANCES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m man May 31, 1949.

Original F'iled Oct. 11, 1943 INVENTOR. 2 05572 r LD Z May 31, 1949.

R. R. CANDOR TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER FOR DOMESTIC APPLIANCES Original Filed Oct. 11, 1943 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER FOR DOMESTIC APPLIANCES Robert R. Candor, Oakwood, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application October 11, 1943, Serial No.

505,749, now Patent No. 2,451,069, dated October 12, 1948. Divided and this application August 17, 1945, Serial No. 610,998

6 Claims.

This invention relates to domestic appliances and more particularly to a combined time and thermostatic control for heaters, such as oven heaters in domestic ranges.

2 Fig. 11 is an elevation of the contact units taken along the section line ll-l l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram showing the thermostatic control with the automatic return This application is a division of my copending ans; application S. N. 505,749, filed October 11, 1943, F g. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, but showfor Timeand temperature controller for domestic ing a modified form of return means; appliances, now Patent No. 2,451,069, issued Oci 14 is an nlar d vi w f the r tu n swit tober 12, 1948. and

An object of this invention is to provide a Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but with the combined time and thermostatic control of such device in a later Positiona character that it is only necessary to set the Heretofore it s been Customary Provide time device on the timerand to adjust the thera timing device to be used in combination with mostat, without the necessity of also setting an a thermostatic device to control the electric or extra selector knob of the character which here- 5 a a e s of ome i rangest has been tofore has been d t m t timer in customary, when the user desires to set the con- U01 trols, for the user to set an on indicator and off Another object of thi invention i t provide indicator, a thermostatic indicator, and in addian improved thermostatic control which is capalJiOIl a SeleCtOr b Which de ermines Whether ble ofbeing returned to the off position uto tithe timer should be in control or not. This addi- Cally by a t tional knob is likely to be forgotten at certain Another object of this invention is to provide times, d this ventio makes it possible 110 a thermostat for controlling heating means, which eliminate Such a knobis provided with means for returning the ther-- lifor example, the control disclosed in the mostat to a desired position at the expiration of Umted states Patent to Hutt 2,310,527, granted a predetermined period f time February 9, 1943, is provided with an on or start Further objects and advantages of the present indicator 33, an off Stop infiicator 34 and invention be apparent from the 581801301 4n WhlCh determlnes description, reference being had to the accomclock control 15 to be effective or The drawings wherein a preferred for of 11101 ShOWn in Said 1S t0 the present invention i learly hown be used a Control, 1101.- Shown In the drawings; in the patent, which is also provided with an Fig 1 is a front elevation of a preferred adjusting knob. This invention makes it possible bodiment of the invention, certain parts being to ehmmate the knob broken a 35 In the Hutt patent there 15 also dlsclosed an- Fig 2 is a plan View showing the general other lmob M, which has no particular connecganization of the device shown in Fig. 1, certain Wlth the e discusslon there parts being Omitted for the purpose of clarity; of is therefore OmIttGd IC being understood that Fig. 3 is a rear sectional elevation taken along h de-vlce ,controlled by knob m used the lines of Fig 2; 40 with or om1tted from, the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the lines 4-4 i r has been as apphed to of Fig 3; glertaindpfi'titcgns (if tthe mechansm disclosed in 1e sai u pa en mere y y way 0 examg seamen taken. along the lmes ple; but it is to be understood that many of the 1 ti k 1 l parts herein disclosed may be used with other e eva on ta en mg the lmes constructions of timers. Many of the views of of E i the Hutt patent have been repeated in this appli- 7 1s a of certam part5 taken along cation, with the modifications of this invention t 111195 of 6; thereon. Wherever numerals are used on the t Fig. 3 is a 5 1 Similar 0 6 but Showing drawings which coincide with the reference nuth parts in a han d p s ti n; merals of the Hutt patent, it is to be understood Fig. 9 is e 860171011 Similar to bu S that the parts so indicated are constructed and ing the parts in a different position; operate in the samemanner as disclosed in the Fig. 10 is a section taken along the lines Ill-40 Hutt patent, of The modifications of this invention deal mainly with the bar 91, pin 98, shaft construction I09 and setting knob 39 of the Hutt patent. These have been modified in this application to the form shown as 291, 298, 209, 239 and 20E. In this application, the bar 291 is pivoted on pin 298 and freely encompasses the shafts 209 and 201, and is not affected by the operation of these shafts. The shaft 209, and its cooperating parts, have been changed to actuate a bar 300, which is also pivoted on the pin 298, so that the bar 300 actuates the return contact 301 when the time indicator 35 comes into coincidence with off indicator 34. By reference to the Hutt patent, it is therefore evident that the user may set the start indicator 33 by means of the knob 38, and this will rock the bar 291 about the pivot 290, to the position shown in Fig. 6. The user can also set the off or stop indicator 34 by means of the knob 239, and this will rock the bar 300 about the fulcrum 298 to the position shown in Fig. 6. The adjustment of the on indicator 33 away from the time indicator 35 positively opens the switch 78, i9 as in the Hutt patent. At three oclock, by way of example, when the time indicator 35 comes into coincidence with the on or start indicator 33, the hub 104 will take the position shown in Fig. 8, and causes the bar 291 to rock about the pivot 2-98to close theswitch l8, 19 substantially the same as described in the Hutt patent, with the exception that the bar 291 fulcrums about fixed pivot 238 instead of fulcruming about the hub 105 as described in the Hutt patent. The operation is substantially the same, and the parts of the Hutt patent do not have to be changed except for slightdimensional changes, which are obvious.

When the time indicator 35 comes into coincidence with the off or stop indicator 34, the hub 305 rises and rocks the bar 300 upwardly about the fulcrum 298 with the aid of spring 203 and this raises the switch 301 into contact with its stationary contact302. A dash-pot construction is used between the bar 300 and the contact 301, so that the first movement of the bar 300 forces the cup 303a; and plunger 303 upward to move the rod 304 and contact 301 into contact with the stationary contact 302,. as shown in Fig. 14. The air compressed at 306 then slowly leaks out "through the perforation 30! in valve 308, and a few moments later the plunger 303 is forced down bythe spring 309, carrying with it the contact 301, away from contact 302 as shown in Fig. 15.

From the foregoing it is to beseen that the Hutt patent construction has been modified by omitting the knob 40, and all the parts controlled by it, and in lieu thereof, the switch 301, 302 has been substituted, which is so constructed that it is momentarily closed when the time indicator comes into coincidence with the off or stop position (at six oclock), and is opened a few moments thereafter. The knob 41, and parts controlled thereby have been omitted in this disclosure, although it is to be understood that they-can be added, if desired.

A thermostat 3510, having a control knob 311 has been shown as associated in the same casing with the timing mechanism, although it is to be understood that it can be placed at some other place on the range and connected by wiring, as is readily understood. The thermostat in casing 3 1-0 is of well-known construction and is provided with a thermostatic bulb 312, which is responsive to the temperatures in the oven 313. The electric heaters 314, 315 are controlled by switching mechanism in the thermostat 310, under impulses received from the thermostatic bulb 312. By way of example, both of the heaters 314 and M5 are completely disconnected in the box 3H3 when the knob 311 is in the off position. When the knob 311 is turned to some cooking or bake position, such as 200, the lower heater 314 is energized at full wattage and the upper heater 315 is energized at reduced wattage, and these heaters are cycled by the switch construction 310 under the control of the bulb 312 to maintain the desired temperature in oven 313. The lower heater 314 in this position of the knob 311 is connected to the live lines 316 and 311, while the upper heater 315 is connected to one of the live lines 316 or 311 and with the ground line 318, with an external resistance 319 added, if desired, in order to produce as low a wattage in heater 315 as desired. By way of modification, the upper heater 315 may be connected to one of the livelines 31.6 or 311 at one of its terminals, and its other terminal may be connected by the line 320 to the point 321 in the lower heater 314 to impose the correct reduced wattage to the upper heater. When the knob 311 is turned to broil, the upper heater 315 alone is energized at full Wattage by being connected to the live lines 316 and 31.1 while the lower heater is completely deenergized. If desired the construction may be such that when the knob 3H is first turned to broil and then returned to 200 (or anyother lower temperature) then both heaters 314 and 315 are energized at full wattage until the oven reaches the selected temperature and thereatfer the heaters are cycled as heretofore described with regard to the 200 setting. A thermostat of this construction is now known commercially, and is also described in the application of Victor Weber, S. N. 323,162,

filed March 9,, 1940, now Patent No. 2,385,434, is-

sued September 25, 1945. For this reason, details of the thermostatic switch construction in casing 310 are not disclosed, it being sufiicient to state that a thermostatic bellows in the casing 310 actuates proper switch construction to cycle the heaters 314 and 315 in response to impulses from the bulb 312. Turning of the knob 31 I, which turns the shaft 322adjusts the bellows in such a manner that the bellows maintains the selected temperature in the oven, and the heaters are energized, or cycled, in the selected manner.

To the well-known thermostatic construction heretofore described, this invention adds return means for returning the knob 311'from a cooking position to the off position, this means being rendered effective when the time indicator 35 comes into coincidence with the off or stop indicator 34 (at six-oclock by way of example). Means are also provided for preventing the return means from operating more than once until after the off indicator 34 has again been adiusted away from. the time indicator 35. The purpose of this construction is to return the knob 311. to the ofi position at the termination of a time controlled cooking operation and also to prevent the thermostat from being returned accidentally to the off position, if the user should decide to operate the thermostat. manually without resetting the off indicator 34 out of coincidence with the time indicator 35.

' The means for returning the knob 3 to the off position include the switch construction 3'01, 302 heretofore described, and in addition, certain parts shown in Fig, 12. The shaft 322 is sur+ rounded by a sleeve 323 which isloosely rotatable on the shaft 322 and carries a gear 324. The gear 324 is continuously rotated through gearing 325, which may be connected through gear 4'! with the clock motor gear 45. A clutch sleeve 326 is rotationally fixed, but axially movable on shaft 322, and is provided with a cone clutch 327. The sleeve 330 is moved by lever 328, fulcrumed at 329 and normally rocked counterclockwise by tension spring 330. When the time indicator 35 comes into coincidence with the stop or off indicator34, the switch 30!, 302 is closed, as heretofore described, assuming the position shown in Fig. 14. Therefore the contacts 30! and 302, shown in Fig. 12 are temporarily closed, and this energizes the solenoid 33!, a circuit being produced from power line 332 through contacts 30!, 302, solenoid 33!, contacts 333, 334, line 335 to power line 335. Energization of solenoid 33! raises the armature 33'! and rocks the lever 328 clockwise to engage the clutch 32'! with the gear 324 and. sleeve 323. This returns the shaft 322 and knob 3!! counterclockwise to the off position. As the shaft 322 reaches the off position, the pin 350 comes into contact with the rod 338 of the switch 333 and moves the contact 340 away from the stationary contacts 333 and 334, thus breaking the solenoid circuit and declutchin the shaft 332 at the time that the knob 3!! reaches the off position. If desired, an additional pin 34! is provided for abutment against the stationary stop 342 to prevent rotation of the knob 31! counterclockwise beyond the off position. Also, if desired, a holding circuit is provided for the solenoid 33! by the line 343, which is connected by the switch 344 with one side of the solenoid to hold the same energized in case the switch 30!, 302 should open before knob 3!! has been fully returned to the off position.

The operation of the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 12 inclusive I4 and I5 is as follows: The user (at two oclock, for example) adjusts the start knob 38 and sets the on indicator 33 at three oclock and adjusts the off or stop knob 233 to set the off or stop indicator 34 at oclock. He also turns the thermostat knob 3! I, for example, to 200. This causes the parts and 300 to assume the position shown in Fig. 6. The operation of most of the control parts to reach this position is described in the Hutt patent. The pushing down of knob 239 also pushes down the bar 308 by means of the collar 223 while the collar I23 does not come into contact with the bar 23!. These manipulations rock the bar 29! clockwise and the bar 300 counterclockwise to the position shown in Fig. 6 and move the pins I20 and I2! out of the apertures H8 and H9. The cup 303a is also lowered, air quickly entering space 300 by the raising of valve 308. The oven 3I3 is not heated at that time (two oclock) because the power is broken at I8, 19 by this adjustment. The time indicator 35 then continues to rotate clockwise until it comes to coincidence with the on or start indicator 33 at three oclock. At this timethe pin I20 rises into aperture H8 and causes the hub I04 to rise to the position shown in Fig. 8, and rocks the bar 29'! counterclockwise about the fulcrum 298 and closes the switches I8 and i3, substantially as described in the Hutt patent with the exception that the bar 29! is fulcrumed about 298. Power or current can then flow from the live lines 332 and 335 through the closedswitch I8, "I9, through the thermostatic switch 350 to the heaters 3I4 and 3I5. The heaters therrheat the oven 3 I 3 until it reaches a tem- 6. perature of 200, at which time the thermostat disconnects the heaters 3I4 and 3I5 until such time as the oven 3I3 tends to cool below 200. Thereafter the heaters are re-energized, and a cycling control of the heaters by the switch construction in 3I0 continues, on and off, until six oclock. At six oclock the time indicator 35 comes into coincidence with the stop or off indicator 34. At this time the pin I2! rises into aperture H3 and causes the hub 305 to rise from the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8 to rock the bar 300 clockwise about fulcrum 298 to raise the cup 303a, plunger 303 and contact 30! to the position shown in Fig. 14 thus momentarily closing the contacts 30! and 302. This energizes the solenoid 33! and clutches the continuously rotatin gear 324 with shaft 322 to return the knob 3!! to the ofi position as heretofore described. The switch 30!, 302 is then reopened by the slow leak of air from space 355, heretofore described, and assumes the position shown in Fig. 15, so that the returning movement of knob 3!! cannot be repeated until after the off or stop indicator 34 is adjusted away from coincidence with the time indicator 35. This permits the user thereafter to use the knob 3!! independently of the time control without danger of having the knob returned to the oif position until such time as he elects to reset the time control. When using the knob 3! I independently of the time control (by leaving the indicators 33 and 3 in coincidence with indicator 35), the contacts I8 and 19 are closed and allow power to flow continu-' ously to thermostat 3!!]. As long as the thermostat knob 3I! is at off the power is broken at 3I0. The user can turn the knob 3!! to any desired position and may operate the oven just as if the time control were not present merely by allowing the indicators 33, 34 and 35 to remain in coincidence. i

In the modification shown in Fig. 13, the returning means for the knob 3!! is powered by the user as he turns the knob from the oil position to a cooking position. All of the parts shown in Fig. 13 operate as in Fig. 12, except for the return means. For example, the shaft 322 is loosely surrounded by a sleeve 350. A spring 35! has one end secured to the casing or anchor means 3!!! and the other end secured to the sleeve 350. A pin 352 is carried by the shaft 322 and a coacting lug 353 is carried by the sleeve 350. As the knob 3!! is turned clockwise by the user, the pin 352 drives the lug 353 and sleeve 350 clockwise. The sleeve 350 has a ratchet band 354 with which a pawl 355 cooperates and holds the sleeve 350 at the farthermost clockwise position to which it is turned. The user can therefore turn the knob 3!! to any position, such as 500 or broil, and can then return the knob 3!! to a lower position such as 200; but the sleeve 350 remains at the farthest clockwise position, being held by the pawl 355. The turning movement of sleeve 350 winds the spring 35 I. When the switch 30!, 302 is closed, as heretofore described, the solenoid 33! a is energized, pulling the armature 331a and the pawl 355 against the action of the tension spring 330a. This releases the sleeve 350 and allows the spring 35! to rotate the sleeve 350 and shaft 322 until the knob 3!! returns to the off position. At this time the pin 34in abuts the stationary stop 342a, and the pin 360a opens the switch 339a to break the holding circuit of the solenoid 33Ia. The holding circuit 343a, 344a, 335a. is substantially the same as that disclosed in Fig. 12 and may be used if desired. However;

. if since the returning movement ofspring 351 is rapid, the holding circuit maybe omitted, if desired, reliance being made on the return of knob 3: t the off position. before. switch 3% is re-opened by the dash-pot construction.

The operation of the modification shown in Fig. 13, taken in combination with the disclosure of Figs. 1 to 11, 14 and 15, is as follows: The user (at two oclock) sets the indicators 35 and 34- at three and six respectively (by way of example) and sets the knob 3| I at 200. The setting of the knob at 200 winds the spring 3'5I as heretofore described. When the time indicator 35 comes into coincidence with the on or start indicator 33 at three oclock, the switch 18,19 is closed, as heretofore described causing the heaters 3M and 315 to be cycled by thermostat 310, as heretoiore described until six erclock. the: time indicator 35 comes into coincidence with the stop or off indicator 3 1 at six o'clock, the switch 301, 302 is temporarily closed, thus energizing the solenoid 331a and moving the pawl. 355 away from the ratchet band 354;. This the sleeve 350 to be rotated counterclockwise by the spring 35l and drives the shaft 322 and knob 31 I- back to the off position. Since the contacts in the thermostat 3H1 (Figs. 12. and 13) remain open at all times as long as the knob: 3H at the off position, the heaters will not be energized again. until the user moves the knob 3 to a cooking position. In Fig. 13, the knob 3 will not be returned from a cooking position. to the off position a second time, until the user adjusts the on" indicator 34 away from coincidence withthe timeindicator 35.

In either modification, the user may adjust the off indicator 34 and the thermostat knob 3H. and may thus start a cooking interval of time immediately to be terminated at the time selected by the indicator 34.

In the Hutt patent, and in this application, the

off and on indicators are shown concentric with the time indicator; but it is to be understood that they may have their own separate dials. The word coincidence as herein used, is intended to mean that the time indicator shows; a time which coincides with the setting of the on or off indicator, regardless of whether they are concentric or not.

It is obvious that this invention may beused with gas stoves. For example the switches herein disclosed may be used to operate solenoid gas valves in the well-known manner, or gas valves may be directly substituted for the switches.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferredv form, .it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a device of the character described, av source of heat energy, an oven, heating means: for saidoven, a thermostat con-trolling the flow of energy from said source to said heating means in. response to oven temperature, thermostat adjusting means for said thermostat having an; off position and a cooking position, return means for returning said. adjusting: means from cooking. position to off position, a clock having. on, off and time indicators, means for adjusting saidv on and off indicators away from coincidence with said. time indicator, means for locking said on and off indicators with said time indicator as said. time indicator comes into coincidence with said on and off indicators, switch. means control-ling conjointly with said thermostat the flow of energy from said source to said heating means, means opening said switch means when said on indicator is adjusted away fromcoinci'dence with said time indicator and closing said switch means when said time indicator comes into coincidence with said on indicator, said return means including spring means powered by the user and being rendered effective when said time indicator comes into coincidence with said ofiz indicator, andimeans preventing said returnmeans from operating more than once until after said. oi'f indicator has again been adjusted away from said time indicator.

'2. In. a device of the character described, a source of heat energy, heating means, a thermostat controlling the flow of energy from said source to said heating means in response to temperature created by said heating means, thermostat. adjusting means for said thermostat including a rotatable shaft movable from an off position to a heating position, a sleeve around said shaft, a spring connected to said sleeve and powered by movement of said shaft from said off position to said heating position, a timer having time adjusting means to set a heating time limit for said heating means, means releasing said spring at said time limit, and means causing said spring and sleeve to return said shaft from heating. position to said oif position.

3. In a device of the character described, a thermostat, said thermostat having an adjusting shaft rotatable from a first position. to a second position, a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a spring connected at one point to said sleeve and to anchor means at another point and powered by rotation of said sleeve, one-way drive means between said sleeVe and shaft to power said spring while said shaft is moved from said first position to said second position and to allow said shaft to be manually returned independently of said sleeve, one-way locking means for said sleeve to lock said sleeve in spring powered position, and release means for said locking means: to cause said sleeve to return said shaft from second position to first position.

4. In a device of the character described, a thermostat, said thermostat having an adjusting shaft rotatable from a first position to a second position, a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a spring connected at one point to said sleeve and to anchor means at another point and powered by rotation of said sleeve, one-way drive means between said sleeve and shaft to power said spring while said shaft is moved from said first position to said second position and to allow said shaft to be manually returned independently of said sleeve, one-way locking means for said sleeve to lock said sleeve in spring powered position, release means for said locking means to cause said sleeve to return said shaft from second position to first position, a timer having time adjusting means to set a time limit for automatic return of said shaft from said second position to said first position, and means controlled by said timer to actuate said release means when said time limit is reached.

5. In a device of the character described, a thermostat, said thermostat having an adjusting shaft rotatable from a first position to a second position, a sleeve surrounding said shaft, oneway clutch means between said sleeve and shaft to rotate said. sleeve when said shaft is manually rotated from said first position to said second position, and to allow said shaft to be manually rotated from said second position to said first position independently of said sleeve, one-way locking means for said sleeve, release means for said locking means, and means to return said sleeve and shaft from said second position to said first position when said release means is actuated.

6. In a device of the character described, a source of heat ener y, heating means, a thermostat controlling the flow of energy from said source to said heating means in response to temperature created by said heating means, thermostat adjusting means for said thermostat including a rotatable shaft movable from an off position to a heating position, a spring powered by movement of said shaft from said off position to said heating position, a timer having time adjusting means to set a heating time limit for said heating means, means releasing said spring at said time limit, means permitting said shaft to be returned manually from said heating position toward said off position to an intermediate heating position while maintaining said spring in powered condition, and means causing said spring to return said shaft from heating position to said off position.

ROBERT R. CANDOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

